Defensive midfielder-cum-stopper Benjamin Stambouli has signed for Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year, €8m deal from EPL side Tottenham Hotspur and is looking forward to taking his career to the next level.

Montpellier boss Rolland Courbis has said there is 'something of Varane' about new central defender/defensive midfielder Ramy Bensebaini, who has joined La Paillade on loan - with an option to buy - from Algerian side Paradou AC.

In their meeting on June 18, 2015, the LFP's Administrative Council ratified the match calendar for Ligue 1's season 2015-16. The campaign will kick off on Friday, August 7, as champions Paris Saint-Germain travel to LOSC Lille.

Nehterlands right-back Grégory van der Wiel has expressed his desire to ignore interest from Manchester United and stay with Paris Saint-Germain despite the uncertainty surrounding the extension of his current contract.

Olympique de Marseille forward Florian Thauvin has insisted that he wants to put a tough season behind him and hit his straps with the southern giants - despite rumours linking him with a move to EPL side Newcastle United.

Ligue 1 News Archives

Lille deprived of Man U, Chelsea target Digne

Lille will be without the services of highly rated left-back Lucas Digne, suffering from meniscus damage, for the next four to six weeks as they face crunch matches against Bayern in the Champions League and Marseille in L1.

After struggling to play to the end of Lille's 2-1 win over Valenciennes at the weekend, Digne has undergone surgery for meniscus damage in his knee and will be out of action for the next four to six weeks.

The news comes as a blow for Lille boss Rudi Garcia, already deprived of captain Rio Mavuba for similar reasons, just as his side are beginning to rediscover their winning touch after a slow start to the season.

Ascendancy

A product of the Lille youth academy, Digne - who has been the subject of several scouting missions from both Manchester United and Chelsea - burst into the senior squad last season, making 16 appearances and going on to nail down a first-team place in the current campaign, with seven starts (nine appearances) in the league and five appearances (one goal) in the Champions League qualifying and group stages.

Digne's convalescence mean he will miss league clashes with Brest, Lorient and Marseille as well as next week's Champions League clash against Bayern in Munich as well as the final two group stage matches against BATE Borisov and Valencia.

His likey replacement, as was the case in Lille's 1-0 Coupe de la Ligue win over Toulouse in midweek, ex-OM wing-back Laurent Bonnart.